Cycling with damsels?

[superman]

Sorry but maybe i'm just slow. I don't get the whole idea behind. Do the damsels live through this. From what i've read it sounds like some times they live and sometimes they die. I don't know, why would you use a live fish to cycle? <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" />
-Superman

 

[fshhub]

some times they do die, but often they do live,and people use them, because they can live through more than other fish, and b4 it was not consideredto cycle in another way, no one ever thought of alternatives(i guess), but i will not use any fish personally, i feel it is inhumane

 

[deuce biggalow]

I have cycled 5 tanks in the past year and used damsels every time. I use one for every 10 gallons. I think I have maybe lost one, but it was not right away ( I think it was attacked by another damsel ). The reason damsels are used is because they seem to be the hardiest fish, they are not effected too much by gradual changes in water conditions. I think its the best way to cycle a tank. I do not think it is inhumane, if the damsels are healthy and everything is done correctly, they should remain alive. Justin

 

[bigeyedfish]

Damsels can probably live in my toilet bowl. Dont use them unless you plan on dealing with them being very aggressive to the rest of your fish. they are a bi**ch to get out later down the road. Just use LR and LS to cycle the tank.

 

[charlie lisanti]

I used green chromis to cycle my tank. They are part of the damsel family. They are also a hardy fish that can take extereme water conditions. I lost one of four. The one I lost was because the fish would not eat. He lasted a week without taking a bite of food.
The reason I like the green chromis is because they are a very peaceful fish. You dont have to remove them like you do with the damsel. You can grow attached to the fish and not have to get rid of it

 

[petekc]

Don't use Damsels. They are too much of a pain to get out later. If you don't mind spending the extra money use a Clown fish. Boy I wish I had done that. Also use live rock that will help out a lot.

 

[jmesmcm]

I cycled my tank with a tomato clown and a picasso trigger. Both lived through it very happily and were none the worse for the process.

 

[badkjb2]

i used 3 damsels, one died. it looked like it was a brutal process. they would shake around when the ammonia got high. i actually felt bad. if i would of known to cycle with live rock, i would of. should of researched more. my damsels are VERY peacful. maybe i just got lucky.

 

[fshhub]

it is not humane to put a fish into water with very high ammonia??
how so, ammonia is very toxic, to most living creatures, even us, even though the ammonia is not high, at first, it should go throuhg the roof in hte early stages of the cycle
call it waht you want, it is not what i would want to go through
i have used damsels, and no longer do for this reason and the fact that they are a pain to get out later on